There are three relays along this part of the coast that carry two channels only. These are Holywell, Flint and Bagillt. Clearly, their only purpose (in this very English part of Wales!) is to appease the Welsh language lobby, because without BBC2 and ITV1 they cannot be necessary for coverage reasons. The Prestatyn relay, however, must have been adjudged to be technically necessary because it carries four channels, but if so, how come no-one seems to use it?
The curious transmission arrangement, with a solitary log-periodic pointing across a semi-rural area in an apparent attempt to serve Blackpool, puzzled me for a while. But in fact the transmission is aimed solely at the eastern fringe of the town where reception from Llanddona is unreliable. In essence the Prestatyn relay exists as a filler for Llanddona, and since no-one uses Llanddona then no-one uses Prestatyn either. It all makes perfect sense in a crazy sort of way! |
